F 170b ;4 ' ^, ^.< - >: \ ,. "v . h ■.'•■ ■c-t^ ^^ '■^.■■^ •-;--»4>f _ ^ -ARY TH K ORIENTAL REPUBLIC OE URUGUAY -AT THE- World's Columbian Exhibition, CHICAGO, 1893. ^EOl^RApHY, I(QRi\L IflDU^TI^lE^, dOpEl^CE, I|EBERIIL ^Ti\TI^TlC^. -BY CARLOS PvlARIA I3E PKNA ^AND- HONORE ROUSTAN, Director of the General Statistics Office TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY d. d. RETliORE. MONTEVIDEO. 18Q3 THE ^ ORIEINTAI, REIPUBUC OF URUGUAY AT THE WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXHIBmON, CHICAOO, 1893 PLEASE NOTE MAP. <^ ".9\ •4 hAK'(:Kf)| I I MMvAIvY Bancroft library Px vJ 1. X O H/ , University of Caljfornlft WrTHORAWN Montevideo, December 31st, 1892. To the Hon. President of " Chicago Exhibition'''' Executive Committee: On delivering the Spanish text of these notes and statistical inquiries, the compiling of which we have taken under our care as a patriotic duty, it is convenient to observe that, if the present work principally contains facts and particulars only relative to the year 1891, it is because complete general statistics covering the year 1892 are not yet to be had, as the " Board of Statistics" do not publish the " Annual" till the second quar- ter of the year 1893, and also because it has been considered better to con- serve a certain general unity in the compiling of facts and particulars. If, in a few special cases, any particulars of the year 1892 have been quoted, it was merely with the purpose of supplying to some deficiency, The time which the Commission has had to dispose has been very short for a work of this kind ; the particulars that existed at the " Board of Statistics" had to be used, and it was impossible to get any new ones, at least as completely and as quickly as it was required ; and that if, notwithstanding so many difficuties, it has been possible to deliver the present work in due time, it is because the Director of the "Board of General Statistics" had already compiled nearly all of it, so that the only thing to be done has been to introduce a few short amplifications, sometimes to change the order, and some others to make a few important corrections. The only thing we are sorry for, is not to have received all the particu- lars and information we had asked for, so as to give to the present work a greater novelty and a more seducing form — that, with a greater number of facts and particulars, might reveal what is, what can be, and what is to be, one day or other the Oriental Republic, with all its economical and social elements, and with all the new elements that will be created, owing to the benfits of peace and owing to the work and energy of the inhabitants, under the protecting shield of a severe and provident Administration. . Having concluded this work which was committed to our care, and thinking that the translator, Mr. J. J. Rethore, will finish his in the first fortnight of the next year, we have the honor of saluting the Honorable President with all our greatest consideration and esteem. HONORE ROUSTAN. CARLOS M. DE PENA. Y^iAViniJ I '■\Oy^■'JVll\{\ :\\ Minister of Foreign Relations, Montevideo, Jan. 27, 1893. To the Consul- General: The Government has this day issued the following decree: Ministry of Foreign Relations. Decree. Montevideo, January 27, 1893. In view of the representation made by the Ministry of Public Works (Fomento) in a note of present date, the President of the Republic decrees : Article 1. The following are appointed as members of the Commis- sion representing the Republic of Uruguay in the Universal Exposition at Chicago: President, Senor Don Prudencio de Murguiondo, Consul General in the United States of North America; Special Commissioner, Don Lucio Rodriguez Diez; and Regular Commissioner, Don Alberto Gomez Ruano, Dr. Don Eduardo Chucarro, and Don Ricardo Hughes. Art. 2. The said Commissioners will arrange directly with the Central Commission at Montevideo in everything relating to their duties. Art. 3. Let this decree be published and recorded. Signed: Herrera y Obes, Manuel Herrero y Espinosa. Any information regarding Uruguay will be cheerfully given by the Commissioners at Chicago till the Exposition closes, and after that by the Consul-General of Uruguay, at WasLington, D. C, or the following Consuls and Vice Consuls. CONSULS. THO.MAS A. EDDY, KAFAEL S. SALAS, JOSE COSTA, LEONCE RABILLON, JAMES E. MARRETT, EDUARDO FORNIA.S, C. C. TURNER, New YojiK. Savannah, Ga. San Fkancisco, Cal. Baltimore, Md. PouTLAND, Maine. Philadelphia. Chicago, III. VICE- CONSULS. ARTHUR CARROLL, THOMAS C. WATSON, HENRY T. DUNN, W. A. MURCHIE, N. B. BORDEN, JAMES HAUGHTON, GEORGE A. BARKSDALE, WILLIAM N. HARRIS, G. H. GREEN, P. B. GENOVAE, CHARLES F. HUGIIET, R. W. STEWART, ALFRED THOMAS SHAW, ARTHUR HOMER, H. F. KREBS, Boston, Mass. Pensacola, Fla. Brunswick, Ga. Calais, Maine. Fehnandina, Fla. f Norfolk, Newport News \ and yorktown. Richmond, Va. Wilmington, N. C. New Orleans. St. Augustine, Fla. Charleston, S. C. Bangor, Maine. Mobile, Ala. Galveston, Texas. Pascagoula, Miss. THE ORIENTAL REPUBLIC. OF URUGUAY, (SOUTH AN^ERICA.) Discovery— Situation— Limits— Configura- tion— Perimeter— Superficies. The territory of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, situated within the tem- perate zone of South America, was dis- covered in the beginning of the sixteenth century by the famous Spanish cosmog- rapher, Juan Diaz de Solis. Its geographical stituation is comprised between the 30°, 5' and 35° degrees of latitude S. and the 56th 15' and 60th 45' of longitude W., according to the Paris meridian. North and eastward it confines with the United States of Brazil, and westward with the Argentine Republic. Its limits are: On the north, the river Cuareim, the cuchilla or ridge of hills of Santa Ana, and the right bank of the river Yaguaron Grande; on the east, the occidental coast of Lake Merin and the river Chuy, which empties into the At- lantic ocean; on the west, the river Uru- guay, which separates it from the Argen- tine Republic; on the south, the river Plate. Its configuration is somewhat that of a many-sided polygon, surrounded in its greatest part by water, except its northern part, where it is bounded by the terrestrial frontier, which separates it from the Brazilian Republic. Its perimeter is of 1846 kilom. 850 m., out of which 1073 kilom. 750 m. are sea and river coasts, remaining 773 kilom. 100 m. of terrestrial line. Its superficies is 186,920 square kilom. Aspect— Climate— Meteorology- The prevailing aspect of the country presents itself with continuous undula- tions, formed by the numerous ctcchiUas or ridges of hills, which shoot in all direc- tions. The hills are covered with rich pasture grounds. Trees of all kinds stand along the banks of the principal rivers and rivulets which flow, winding about, over great extensions of land, and water the fertile meadows, forming, under a quiet and generally clear sky, a charming landscape all over, which THE ORIENTAL REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY AT THE invites to employ usefully such manifold natural riches that have just begun, being cultivated and worked in a vast scale and with" fruitful results. Although it is not a mountainous coun- try, its highlands are numerous. The prin- cipal heights are the hills of Santa Ana, 490 m.; the hills of Haedo, 400 m.; the Cuchilla Grande (high hills), 458 m. To all these hills join a great many others less high, the declivity of which form the lakes, ponds and rivers that give a great variety to the hydrography of the country. The climate all over the Kepublic is mild and notably healthy; there exist no malignous, endemical disease whatever. Neither the cold nor the heat is excessive. The middle temperature may be calcu- lated to be, in winter-time of 11 degrees, in spring-time of 17 degrees, in summer of 31 degrees, and in autumn of 16 degrees. The maximum of heat in the month of January is 36°, and that of cold in the month of July is 3° above naught. The climate is a little dryer in the in- j ierior than on the coast. Along the coasts watered by the salt waters of the great mouth of the river Plate, the climate is thoroughly a sea climate, and the seasons never get to any extreme. Meteorological observations, made in Montevideo in the year 1843 and down to the year 3 852 have given a middle term of 244 serene days, 85 cloudy days and 36 rainy days per annum. The last observations made by the "Uru- guay Meteorological Society" during the year 1891 have given the following results; Atmospherical pressure, calculated in mm., reduced to 0, middle term, 760,572. Temperature of the air, in the shade, centigrade degrees, middle term, 16,23; minimum, m. t. 12.77; maximum, m. t. 19.36. Tension of the vapor, in mm., middle term, 10.98. Relative humidity (saturation = 100), middle term, 77.29. Inferior wind, prevailing direction N. N. E.; rapidity in meters by second, middle term, 3.81. Eain, mm., total: 711.8. Winter is so mild in this country that, in fact, the year may be divided into two seasons — the hot season, from November till April, and the cool season, from May till October. Whatever may be the geographical, situ- ation of his own country the foreigner does not need any previous acclimation ; when he comes to live in this Republic he does not feel any disorder in his health, owing to the mildness of the temperature. The most ordinary winds are the N., N. E., E; and S. W. winds. This last one, called Panq^ero, is pure and vivifying and is rightly considered as the purifier of the Plate, and one of the principal causes of the wholesomeness which the country enjoys. Rivers— Rivulets— Ports— Docks— Dry Docks. With only looking over the map of the Republic, one gets an idea of its rich hy- drography. Sixteen rivers flow through the territory, all being joined by more than 500 rivulets that increase their size and current. The principal rivers are the Plate and Uruguay, which bathe the coasts of the Republic, and the Rio Negro (the black river), which flows all through the center of the territory. The River plate, at its mouth, between cape Santa Maria and cape San Antonio, is more than 206 kilometers wide; its super- ficies are calculated to be over 39,846 kilom.; its length 361 kilom.; its breadth, between Colonia and Buenos Ayres, a lit- tle more than 51 kilom. The River Uruguay flows from N. to S., its length through the Republic is 530 kilom., its breadth from the Guazu down to the point of Fray Bentos varies from 10 to 15 kilom. After passing Fray Ben- WOKLD's COLUMBIAN EXHIBITION, CHICAGO. tos it becomes narrow, owing to the multi- tude of islands which form deep channels. In its normal state it runs three or four miles and hour. It is navigable up to Pay- sandu for ships of great tonnage, and up to Salto for coast trading boats. The Eio Negro runs through the terri- tory from N. W. to W., with an extension of 463 kilom. It is navigable for ships of small tonnage for 94 kilom,, more or less. The other thirteen rivers are : the Cu- areim, the Arapey, the Dayman, the Que- guay, the Tacuarembo, the Yi, the Yagua- ron,the Tacuari,the Olimar Grande, the San Jose, the San Salvador and the Santa Lucia. These powerful arteries, the waters of which are increased by numberless rivu- lets that empty into them, flow down to the remotest parts of the Eepublic and feritilize them. The waters of the River Plate, till a little further up than Santa Lucia are salt; beyond this they always remain fresh. The waters of the Uruguay, Eio Negro and other rivers of the interior have the property of petrifying animal and vegeta- ble substances. Along the 1,073 kilom. of maratime and fluvial coasts, which are counted from the mouth of the Cuareim Eiver down to the Eiver Chuy, are the principal ports of the Eepublic. The most important ones are Maldo- nado, Montevideo and Colonia, on the coasts watered by the Eiver Plate. There exist others of less importance, like those of Paloma, Coronilla, Castillos Grande, Buceo and also the bay, called the Eng- lishman's Bay, (Ensenada del Ingles). Along the Eiver Uruguay we find the ports Nueva Palmira, Carmelo, Indepen- dencia, Paysandu, Salto, Constitucion and Santa Eosa. Along the Eio Negro, those of Soriano and Mercedes; and along the San Salvador the port of San Salvador. The principal port in the Eepublic is that of Montevideo. It is estimated as the best port on the Eiver Plate, owing to its natural conditions. It has the shape of a horse-shoe, being the two extreme points, Avhich form its entrance, some seven kilom. distant from one another. The perimeter of the bay is ten kilom., and six hundred m. It offers ships a safe shelter, its entrance being towards the N. W. and its channel between 15 and 17 feet deep. The general depths of the bay is between 14 and 15 feet. The steamers cast anchor near the entrance of the port in the exterior bay where the depth gets to 25 feet. The port of Montevideo is not only the anchoring ground of the ships that have to load and unload, but it is also the port where all of the ships stop on their way to the Pacific Ocean, and also all the men-of- war of the nations which have a naval station in the Eiver Plate. All the steamers of the rivers have their anchoring ground in front of the docks? where they all have their mgorings at a distance of 125 m. from the wharf. Being the principal port where the commerical and naval movement is most important, Montevideo counts with two beautiful dry docks, belonging to private persons, one of them is the Maua Dry Dock and the other one belongs to Jackson and Cibils. They have both been opened in the quick rock, and have for their serv- ice all the most modern machines, ad- mitting ships of all tonnage. Besides those two, there are a great many docks, dry docks and harbors, all over the bay and also in the ports of Salto and Colonia. Minerals. The territory of the Eepublic contains numberless riches not worked out yet, in precious metals, in copper, iron, lead, etc., in agate stone, rock, crystal, slate, calca- reous stone, marble of all colors, which could advantageously rival with the mar- bles of Italy and Pyrenean mountains. Eich marble quarries exist in the de- partment of Minas, which could not have been worked before on account of the dif- 10 THE OBIENTAL REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY AT THE Acuities for the transport, made easier and cheaper now days when the railway reaches to Minas 123 kilom. distant from the capital. The Cunapini gold region is now worked by the following societies: Zapucay gold mines, with 20 crushing machines. Uruguay gold fields, with 60 crushing machines. Hermanos gold minings, with 20 crush- ing machines. The French Uruguay gold mine com- pany, the working of which is stopped for the present, has spent in the region men- tioned more than three millions of dollars, and has established milldams in the rivers Cunapiru and Corrales so as to employ, for the grinding, a powerful hydraulic strength. The working of the mines on a great scale is just^beginning now without inter- ruption. During the last two years over 72,000 tons of quartz have been extracted and crushed, giving a result of over 420 kilog. of fine gold. Mines of lead and copper and marble quarries are now worked in the depart- ments of Minas and Maldonado. The agate stone is exported as it is found in the Catalan hills, department of Salto, and there exists in Montevideo an agent of the house established in that de- partment, where are sold the stones worked out into art objects. In La Paz, near Montevideo, there exist quarries of red and blue granite, some beautiful pieces of which are employed as columns in some important buildings. Stone is abundant in the Republic. Everywhere in Cerro, La Paz, Sauce, Colonia and other places they continually open new quarries which permit a con- siderable exportation for the works under- taken in Buenos Ayres and La Plata. The Colonia quarries alone employ over two thousand workmen. Vegetation. The territory does not only count with its native trees the wood of which is em- ployed in the industries and the rural economy; but all over its fertile soil do grow, reproducing themselves, and per- fectly accustomed to the climate, nearly all the trees of the other regions. Among the native trees there are the nandubay, that has the property of petri- fying itself under the ground, the ur-un- day, the lapacho, the viraro, the coronilla, the espinillo, quebracho, tala, araza, the carob-tree, the black laurel, the timbo, guaviyu, copal, the white, red, brown and yellow willow, the mutaojo, paraiso, the wild acacia, the ceibo and many others, the wood of which may be employed for making all kinds of casks and buildings, and also for burning. "The riches of the forests in this coun- try," says Dr. Ordonana, perpetual secre- tary to the Rural Association, "belong to two distinct categories. The first one extends itself along the banks of the rivers and rivulets of the interior of the Repub- lic, and the other is a consequence of the sediments, ground and sands brought down by the rivers that form the Plate, which, stopped by the banks of low Uru- guay, give birth to plants like those de- scribed by clever botanists as Azara and Bomplan, as belonging to the regions of the Pilcomayo, Parana and Paraguay. *' The trees are generally represented by a great many out of which no wood can be made, and small shrubs that give fruits, used in other times by the natives, gums and resins, stuffs used for weaving and dying, and a great many twining plants, among which there are the hisipo, of yel- low flowers, and also the ilex- mate. "I^one of the plants we mention here have been considered, until now, worth being scientifically cultivated, although our Society has claimed for it many times, because, neither private persons nor private congregations, without the help of the WOKLD's COLUMBIAN EXHIBITION, CHICAGO. 11 government, can afford the establishment and maintenance of experimental farms, which are the true guides for studies and observations. "We have preferred here cultivating foreign trees, whilst we had here a great many much better than they, as for their wood, shade and elegance. " The private efforts of men we cannot forget have changed the aspect of our forests and also of the cattle of the country, by enriching it with new seeds and new plants and employing the combined means of nature and of work." In many departments the palm tree is found, also many kinds of fruit and orna- mental trees. There are trees, shrubs and herbs with medicinal properties and good for dyeing and weaving, and also resinous, aromatic and alkaline ones. The series of the plants with healing properties is long; there maybe found the sarsaparilla, the marshmallow, the liquor- ice, the rhubarb, the camomile, the wild celery and many other plants, which it would be too long to enumerate here. Among the fruit trees accustomed to this climate there are : the orange tree, the apple tree, the pear tree, the apricot tree, the pomegranate tree, the peach tree, the cherry tree, the lemon tree, the plum tree, the nut tree, the quince tree, the olive tree, the medlar tree, the almond tree, the chestnut tree, the fig tree, the date palm, etc., etc. Among the other classes we find the poplar, the cypress, the elm, the oak, the plantain, the acacia, the eucalyptus, the cedar, the magnolia, the white mulberry tree, etc. As for the cereals and vegetables, all kinds of them grow here perfectly and abundantly. Wheat, maize, barley, lu- cerne, are the principal rural products. The chick-pea, the French bean, the gray pea, the bean, the sugar-pea, the bastings, the lentils, the potatoes, the Spanish potatoes, the carrot, the radishes, the turnips, the pumpkins, the beet root. etc., and all kinds of pot herbs, the water- melons, the melon and the strawberry grow also abundantly. The grape vine, the flax, the tobacco, the canary seed, the cotton, the anise-seed, the hemp, the cnrrin seed, the peanuts and many other classes give good results. During these last years the nursing of the vine, the olive, the lucerne, and the to- bacco has spread itself a great deal. As for the flowers, there is such an immense variety of them and such a plenty that the Republic has deserved the name of " The country of sun and flowers." The industry of nosegays and crowns has reached an unheard-of de- velopment. Beside the garden plants that belong to the country, they nurse here all the varieties known in Europe. The environs of Montevideo count a great many important establishments dedi- cated to the commerce of plants, orna- mental and fruit trees, all of the most valuable kinds. Animals. The native animal reign counts thirty- nine families; among them we find the deer, the buck, the otter, the carpincho and many others, the skins of which are exported. There are more than 500 species of birds, among them the ostrich, the white stork, the wood turkey, the swan, the water duck, the heath cock, the moor cock, the partridge, the wood pigeon, etc. Among the singing birds the varieties are innumerable. Among the fowl, they bring up all kinds of hens, the duck, the goose, the pigeon, the turkey, etc. There are fourteen species of shells, and seven among the crustaceous. As for fishes, there are to be found numerous and rich varieties of salt and fresh water ones. Large quantities of the first class are taken over to Buenos Ayres every day by the steamers. Pisiculture is destined to have a great development here. 12 THE OKIENTAL REPUBLIC OF URUGrAY AT THE An important fishery is already established on the coasts of Maldonado. The bring- ing up of salmon has already been tried. The only things wanting still are money and technical directions for the reproduc- tion of the richest kinds of fishes, so as to supply with great advantage the Monte- video and Buenos Ay res markets. The principal industry in the country is the cattle and horse-breeding, which, as will further on be seen, produces in a pro- digious way. This industry was intro- duced into the country in the time of the conquest by the Spaniards. Actually they improve and refine the cattle and horses by the crossing with the pure blood animals which continually come from Europe and the Argentine Kepublic. Already there exist important establish- ments with thoroughly pure blood animals born in the country, having already begun the wholesale of oxen and cows for con- sumption, and of horses for races and coach. The sheep are now a great deal finer. The improvement began in the year 1832, with two Negretti and Ram- bouillet rams, and this is the reason why the wool, for its good quality, is so much valued in European markets. Besides the merino sheep, a great many other races have been introduced, and among them some of very good flesh, like the South- downs, of which there are already numer- ous herds. Division of the Territory— Situation of the Departments— Centre of Population. The territory is divided into nineteen departments. The superficial area of each of them is as follows : Departments. Salto Artigas Paysandu.. . Rio Negro. . Soriano La Colonia . San Jose . . . Flores Montevideo. Canelones . . Maldonado . Kocha Cerro Largo Treinta y Tres Minas Tacuarembo Rivera Florida Durazno Square Square Miles. Leagues. 4.270 474 4/9 3.855 428 3/9 4.490 498 8/9 2.870 318 8/9 3.125 347 2/9 1.935 213 8/9 2.359 262 1/9 1.531 170 1/9 .225 25 I.GIO 178 8/9 1.391 154 5/9 3.757 417 4/9 5.058 562 3.232 359 1/9 4.230 470 7.120 791 1/9 3.330 370 4.102 455 7/9 4.850 538 8/9 63.330 7.036 6/9 Square Kilometer. 12.601 61 11.379 52 13.252 34 8.470 88 9.233 51 5.681 68 6.963 07 4.519 36 664 09 4.751 95 4.105 57 11.088 88 14.904 41 9.550 35 13.498 33 21.022 49 9.820 94 12.107 15 14.314 89 186.920 01 In the centre of the territory are the departments of Durazno, Flores, Minas, Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres, and Florida, surrounded by those of Artigas, Rivera and Cerro Largo, situated on the very frontier of Brazil; the Department of Rocha on the Atlantic Ocean; those of Maldonado, Canelones, Montevideo, San Jose and Colonia on the River Plate; and those of Soriano, Rio Negro, Paysandu and Salto on the River Uruguay. All those departments count over a hundred centres of population, that is to say, seven towns, forty-eight villages, and thirty-nine colonies or smaller centres. Political Organization. Government. — The constitution of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay establishes the representative republican system. Sovereignty. — The sovereignty in all its fullness exists radically in the Nation, which has the exclusive right of establish- ing its own laws in the way determined by the Constitution. Religion. — The Religion of the state is the Roman Apostolic Catholic Church. However, all dissident churches are tole- rated and their religion can be freely practiced ; the inhabitants enjoy the full liberty of thought. world's COLUMBIAN EXHIBITION, CHICAGO. 13 High Poivers.— The three liigli powers of the state are the legislative power, the executive power and the judicial power. Legislative Poioers. — This power is formed by two chambers, the Senate and Deputies' Chamber. Th-e Senate is com- pounded with as many members as depart- ments, these forming the political and administrative division of the Kepublic. The election is indirect. The President of the Senate is the Vice- President of the Republic, and performs the functions of the first magistrate in case of absence, illness, resignation or death. The Deputies' Chamber is composed of 69 members, directly elected by the people in the way determined by the law on elections. Executive Power. — The executive power is represented by the President of the Re- public, who is elected in a general assem- bly of the two chambers by nominal voting, being required the absolute ma- jority of suffrages expressed on ballots which are publicly read out by the secre- tary. His functions last four years, and he cannot be re-elected unless four other years have passed. The President appoints the Secretaries of State, or Ministers, who are five — one of Government, one of Fomento (Public Edu- cation, Commerce, Industry and Railways), one of Finance, one of War and Navy, and one of Foreign Affairs. Delegates of the Exemitive Power. — In every town, the capital of a department, there is a delegate of the Executive Power called Political and Police Chief {Jefe politico y de policia), and entrusted to make his dispositions obeyed. Judicial Potver. — This power is com- posed of the High Court of Justice. But as this court has not yet been regularly established, the United Tribunals of Ap- peal, composed each of them of three members, perform the functions of the High Court. It is entrusted with the superintendence of all the other judges. There exist in the Republic three Superior Judges {Jueces Letrados), for the civil, two for the commerce, one for the treasure, one for the criminal, and one for the correctional, and also nineteen ordi- nary judges for the departments. Justice of fh& Peace. — There exist a justice of the peace and an attorney in every one of the sections into which are divided the departments. The members of the Justice of the Peace are elected by the people. They give sentence in all the affairs of small importance. The law of the 11th of February, 1879, has created the Civil State Register in all the Republic, and the inscription in this Register has been made obligatory the 1st of July of the same year. This Register is entrusted to the care of the Justice of the Peace, who performs the functions of Civil State Register Officer, and in it are inscribed all the births, marriages, deaths, recognizance and legitimation of the sons. The law of the 22d of May, 1885, declared Civil Matrimony obligatory throughout all the Republic, no other one being acknowledged as legitimate besides the one celebrated according to the law and according to the dispositions estab- lished in the Civil State Registers of the 11th of February, 1879, and their regula- tion and laws of the 1st of June, 1880, and 1st of July, 1884. Municipality (Junta Economico-Ad- ministrativa.) — There exists a Junta or Municipality in each department. The members of the municipality are elected by the people, and they are entrusted with the care of the municipal interests. The Montevideo municipality has a very great importance, being entrusted with the care of all the municipal services except that of the police. Citizenship. — The citizens of the state are either natural or legal. Natural are all those born in the territory ; legal, all the foreigners who ask for citizenship, 14 THE OKIENTAL BEPUBLTC OF UKUGUAY AT THE after having proved their I'esidence in the country for a determined time. All the citizens, whether natural or legal, enjoy the right of voting and may he elected in certain conditions. The constitution of the Republic sworn on the 18th of July, 1830, among other articles, contains the following ones : Art. the 130th. The inhabitants of the state have a right to be protected in their life, honor, liberty, security and property. Nobody can be deprived of these rights, but according to the laws. Art. the 131st. In the territory of the state nobody can be a slave by birth ; the slave trade and introduction of slaves are forever forbidden in the Republic. Art. the 132d. All men are equal be- fore the law, be it preceptive, penal or defensive; the only distinction acknowl- edged is that of talent and virtue. Art. the 134th. The private actions of men, that do not by any way attack the public order nor harm any third person, belong only to God, and, therefore, remain beyond the authority of the magistrates. No inhabitant of the state will be obliged to do what the law does not bid, neither prevented from doing what the law does not forbid. Art. the 141st. Thoroughly free is the communication of thought, by words, private writings, or publications in the public papers, whatever be the subjects, without requiring any previous censure; the only responsible person is the author, or, in his stead, the printer, whenever the writing be abusive, according to the law. Art. the 146th. All the inhabitants of the state may undertake any work, in- dustry or commerce they like, provided they do not harm the public order or the other citizens' rights. Art. the 147th. The entrance into the territory of the Republic is free to any one, as also his staying in it or going away with his goods, provided he respect the police laws and do not harm any third person. Language and Customs. The national language is the Spanish tongue. However, nearly all the languages are known in the Republic, on account of the great number of foreigners established here, and the great number of them who have continuous relations with the country. Nearly every native who has received a fairly good instruction speaks some foreign language. In Montevideo, where continu- ally stop boats of all nations, the practice of French, Italian, English and German is quite general. In nearly every department in the Re- public, and above all in Montevideo, exist a great many good schools belonging to the above mentioned nations. The foreigner who treads the Uruguay soil does not miss the customs of his own country, since the ones he meets here are nearly the same as in the principal Euro- pean cities. A great many years of continuous com- munication with all the nations of the world has made, that the customs of all the civilized nations are quite familiar to the natives. Population— Its Density. In the Statistical Annuary corresponding to the year 1891 the population of the Republic has been calculated thus: Departments. Population In 1891 Montevideo .... 234,688 Canelones . . 64,772 Colonia. . . . 39,309 Soriano . . . 32,617 San Jose . 26,528 Flores . . . 13,737 Florida . . 29,078 Rocha . . 22,237 Maldonado 15,757 Cerro-Largo 25,741 Minas . . . . 23,466 Treinta y Tres • 17,297 world's COLUMBIAN EXHIBITION, CHICAGO. 15 Departments. Population in 1891. Salto 33,837 Artigas 17,367 Durazno 35,020 Paysandu 29,963 Kio Negro 15,970 Tacuarembo .... 25,166 Rivera 16,639 Total 708,168 In the year 1839 the population of the Republic was 74,000 souls, and in the year 1879, 438,345. The increase of the population has pro- duced itself according to the following proportions : In 1882 505,207 inhabitants 1883 520,536 1884 559,668 1885 582,858 1886 596,463 ]887 614.257 1888 648,297 1889 683,943 1890 706,524 1891 708,168 The increase of the population during the year 1891, if compared with the popu- lation in 1879, is of 269,923 souls, that is to say, 61.59 per ceot. If we add to the total of inhabitants during the year 1891 a 6 per cent, on ac- count of the omissions which probably took place in the calculations (omission of inscriptions of births, of declarations in the lists of passengers, etc.), we have a population for the whole Republic of, more or less, 750,658 inhabitants. Dividing the population into nationali- ties we see that out of a hundred inhabit- ants there are 70 natives and 80 foreigners. In Montevideo, however, the proportion varies, being of 53 natives and 47 for- eigners. The density of the population through- out the Republic is of 3. 78 inhabitants for each square kilometre. The Department of Montevideo, which has the smallest superficial area, is the most peopled of all the Republic, (353.44 inhabitants for each square kilometre); in it resides nearly the third part of the population of the country. Next to Monte- video, the Department of Canelones is the most peopled, (13.63 inhabitants for each square kilometre.) The above mentioned results are an evi- dent proof that the territory of the Re- public is still very little peopled, and that there is very easily room enough in it for many millions of inhabitants. Although the density of the population be but of 3.78 inhabitants for each square kilometre, it is, however, superior to the density of the population in the Argentine Republic, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Paraguay and Nicaragua, none of which get to that figure. Movement of the Population. From the year 1887 till the year 1891 have taken place in the Republic : Years. Births. Deaths. Marriages 1887 25,132 12,573 3,438 1888 25,832 12,077 3,976 1889 26,981 13,882 4,175 1890 27,899 15,174 4,083 1891 28,696 13,146 3,534 134,540 65,853 19,185 Middle yearly term: 26,908 13,170 3,837 Proportion out of lOCO inhab- itants : 37.9 18.5 5.4 So as to appreciate better the rank occu- pied by the Republic among the other countries as regards the movement of the 16 THE ORIENTAL REPUBLIC OP URUGUAY AT THE population, the following figures may be considered as points of comparison : Births per Deaths per Marriages Countries. 1000 1000 per 1000 Inh'bit'nts. Inh'bit'nts. Innabitaats. France 25.8 23.8 7.7 Italy 37 29.1 7.8 Scotland 35 21.4 7.1 Ireland 26.9 17.8 4.8 Austria 38.6 31 8.5 Swiss 30.1 23.2 7.4 Belgian 32 22.4 7.2 Sweden 27.1 18.9 6.5 Norway 31.3 17.2 6.9 Denmark 31.1 19.7 7.8 Oriental Repub, of Uruguay.... 37.9 18.5 5.4 Therefore the births in the Republic prove to be in a greater proportion than in any of the mentioned countries, Austria being excepted, while the deaths, with the exception of Sweden and Norway, is in a smaller proportion, as also the marriages, Ireland being excepted. This great number of births and the corresponding diminution in the figures of death prove how easy is the purchase of the elements necessary to life ; and how very excellent are the climate and the salubrity in the Republic. Movement of Passengers. Though the Republic has many ports Montevideo is, nevertheless, where takes place the greatest concourse of passengers. The movement from abroad and from the Argentine and Uruguay coasts has given the following results: Years. Passengers. Per Month. Per Day 1883 60,388 5,033 167 1884 91,872 7,656 255 1885 99,059 8,255 275 1886 89,567 7,464 248 1887 102,396 8,533 284 1888 133,033 11,086 366 1889 153,811 12,817 427 1890 150,447 12,537 417 1891 104,945 8,74 291 The diminution which begins in the year 1890 is due to the economical crisis that began in that year, and the conse- quences of which are still to be felt. Immigration. The territory of the Republic being abundant in all natural resources and elements necessary to make easy any kind of work or industry one chooses to under- take, and the immigrant getting very soon accustomed to a climate and customs very little different from those of his own coun- try, the Oriental Republic of Uruguay offers therefore all kinds of advantages to the honest and laborious immigrant who comes here in search of a remuneration greater than that he can earn in his own country. Thus is explained the large number of foreigners of all nationalities who have chosen this country as their second coun- tryland, settling themselves here definitely and partaking with their families a wealth which allows them a good living, and is the base of their future modest or groat fortune. In spite of the political disorders, the time of which, it may be said, has passed, and in spite of the economi- cal crisis that, with more or less in- tensity, are common to all the countries that rapidly advance and progress, the Oriental Republic has always seen a great and constant affluence of arms and capi- tal, that have contributed in a few years to display powerfully its productive energy, to create establishments and manufactures which, with their products, have increased the relations of exchange with all the markets of the world. Although the present times be not very favorable to the immigratory movement, the country is bound to recover soon, very soon, from the disorders suffered during the last crisis. Our own history, and also that of the other American nations, teach us that in a WORLD S COLUMBIAN EXHIBITION, CHICAGO. 17 period of restrictions in business and settling accounts, the immigration always diminishes, but increases again as soon as it begins to feel the first symptoms of oeaction towards a period of prosperity. The following figures demonstrate the oscillations in the immigratory movement, coinciding with critical or prosperous periods : Immigratory Movement in the Port of Montevideo from 1857 to 1891. ' oii 1887 3»i55 1888 1.316 1889 2,562 1890 1.675 1891 2,844 VI. — Materials for the Industries, Machinery. $ 843,069 623,170 959,800 1,349,687 626,703 9«5>i65 1,013 ^24 1,660,774 1,730,105 404,659 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 VII. — Various Goods. 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 EXPOETS. /. — Live-stoch. From the year 1882 to the year 1891, there was no export of live-stock. //. — Cattle Industry, Saladeros. 1882 . . $2,344,794 370,106 355.280 412,862 474,826 419,081 498,167 422,223 609,895 432,390 443.675 1887 1888 1889 1890 $1,519,267 2,322,854 1.436,348 2,003,739 1,839,922 ///. — Rural Products. From 1882 to 1885 there was no export. IV 1886 . . . $6 1887 30 1888 17 1889 . . . 25 1890 I89I 24 - Various Goods. 1882 $ 2,260 1883 2,036 1884 3.387 1885 4,661 1886 4,906 1887 3,558 1888 4,128 1889 4.939 1890 477 1891 9,412 Money. The coined money, imported and ex- jwrted, has been during the last five years : 1883 2,185,125 1884 1,781,766 1885 4.365.929 1 886 2,714,172 Years. Import. Export. 1887 $3,500,440 $ 7,127,147 1888 7>497.586 7,614,147 1889 5.696,111 10,148,668 1890 7.733>8o6 7.515.048 1891 6,417.405 5,618,582 Navigation. The general navigation movement in the various ports of the Kepublic has become of great importance, owing to the commercial improvements and to the exemption from taxes granted by national legislation. World's Columbian jixiiIbitiok, Chicago. 33 he followi ng table | ^ives an idea of it Years. Ships. Tonnage. 1875 20,394 3,116,161 1876 21,448 3,845.056 1877 22,102 4.370.721 1878 20,915 4,327,504 1879 22,272 4.595.040 1880 21,811 4.369.759 1881 23.053 4,435,860 1882 23.136 5,007,708 1883 22,837 5.422,538 1884 26,764 7,205,653 1885 29»73i 8,590,543 1886 28,542 8,277,662 1887 29,994 9.423,337 1888 35.203 10,551,624 1889 35.582 12.444,462 1890 32,213 11,442,894 1891 27,207 9,482,644 During the last two years a diminution is observed, owed to the crisis and to the competition made by the Argentine ports — competition which will disappear when the work undertaken to improve Monte- video's port is complete, the project of which is already studied. During the year 1891 have entered the ports of the Republic : Tons. Prom abroad . . . 1,092 ships, with 1,429,661 From the Rivers : Gen. coasting trade . 2,941 " " 1,302,648 Receplories . , . 9,637 " " 2,009,951 4,742,260 The ships were : 7,099 steamers, with . , 6,571 sailing vessels, with 13,670 vessels, with . . Tons. 4,157,905 584,295 4,742,200 That is to say, 1,139 vessels with 395,- 183 tons per month, or 37 vessels with 13,006 tons per day. As regards the nationality of the 18,670 vessels entered, there were 5,229 national vessels, with 460,467 tons, and 8,441 foreign vessels, with 4,281,793 tons. Of all the ports in the Eepublic Monte- video is the most important one. During the year 1891 there entered : From Abroad. 434 sailing vessels, with 658 steamers, with . . 1,092 vessels, with . . . Tons. 275,184 1,154,477 1,429,661 From the Rivers — Coasting Trade. 1,680 sailing vessels, with 1,261 steamers, with . . 2,941 vessels, with . . . Tons. 85,542 1,217,106 1,302,648 AVhich gives a total of 4,083 vessels, with 2,732,309 tons, for the year 1891. The nationality of the vessels which entered the port of Montevideo was: Flags Germany . . Argentine Rep Austria Brazil Belgium Den mar ]i Spain Cliile . France . Holland England Italy . . North America Uruguay Kep. Russia ... Sweden . . Total Sailoi's 10 73 "i 9 103 58 19 1 4 123 434 Tons 14.136 192 4.673 1.041 'i!843 21.463 565 5.490 85.818 35.129 10.720 247 3.921 89.947 275.184 Steam- ers 112 5 42 20 1.5 1 97 1 268 97 2 658 Tons. 183.450 515 "36.721 33.668 '"36!577 22 236.963 2.267 456.690 174.812 3.081 1.711 1.154.477 The vessels coasting were : With the national flag With foreign flag . . Ships. Tons. 1,551 99,538 1,390 1,203,110 2,941 1,302,648 Goods. According to the statistics the goods moved in the harbor of Montevideo during the last five years are calculated thus : 34 THK OKTENTAL REPtTBLTC OF URUGUAY AT THE 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 Tons. 1,187,557 1,411,686 1,773,610 1,316,296 1,089,992 6,779,141 That is to say, a middle term of 1,355,- 828 tons moved per year, or 112,985 per month. Lighthouses. Along the coasts of the Kepublic, watered by the Atlantic Ocean and the River Plate, there are eleven lighthouses, established in the most convenient points, to guide and advise the sailors. To them must be at- tributed the notable diminution in the number of shipwrecks. Situation Light Class Luminous power Taxlo be paid Cape Santa Maria Polonio . . . flash Ist 18 miles 2 cts. steady 3d 15 & 16 " m " Jose Ignacio ^' 3d 15 Punta Brava . " 4th 8 Farallon . . . '• 3d 15 Panela .... " 4th 9 Colonia .... turniV 3d 12 Cerro .... " 1st 25 Isle of Flores . " M 15 Banco Ingles . steady 3d 9 Punta del Este . flash 2d 16&18 " • Lazaretto. The Republic possesses one Lazaretto, established in the Isle of Flores, at a dis- tance of 17 miles southeast from Monte- video. It is quite comfortable and provided with everything that may be required for disinfecting and fumigating luggage and correspondence. There is a telegraph and telephone line established between Montevideo and the Lazaretto. Interior Commerce. It has not yet been possible to calculate exactly and completely the interior com- merce of the Republic, between Montevideo and all the other Departments. Statistics only give the figures representing the cat- tle and rural products imported to Monte- video by the Departments and that come by railway for local consumption and export. This commerce gave, during the last five years, a total of 143,446 carts, that is to say a yearly middle term of 28,689. There arrive daily to the Montevideo markets, by railroad and by the rivers, great quantities of skins, (oxen, horses, sheep) wool, horns, bones, tallow, ostrich feathers and other products of cattle in- dustry, and among rural products great quantities of corn, wheat, flour, canary-seed, barley, mustard-seed, potatoes, garlick, French beans, onions, pumpkins, eggs, but- ter, fowl, cheeses, paving and lime stone, spirits and many other goods it would be too long to mention here. There is an important increase every year in the quantity of cattle destined to local consumption, to the Montevideo saladeros and export. Trade-HoTises, Industries, Professions. During the year 1891, 20,328 licenses were paid for by trade-houses, industries, professions and work-houses. The nation- ality of thoe who asked for their trade patent was : Natives 4,134 Argentines 870 Brazilians 166 Italians 7,995 Spaniards 5,336 French 1,324 English 130 Germans 173 Swiss 186 Portuguese 116 Belgians 7 Swedish 7 Danes 5 Norwegians 6 Dutch 1 world's COLUMBIAN EXHIBITION, CHICAGO. 35 Austrians 52 North- Americans 28 Eussians 6 Peruvians 1 Chilians 12 Paraguayan 11 Other Nations 262 Among the most important industries, must be mentioned : the Liebig Extract of Meat Company, the saladeros or kill- ing grounds, the spirits, wine and beer manufactures, flour mills, the starch and vermicelli manufactures, the soap, suet and oil manufactures, the gas, electric light and water companies, the match, brick, shoe and wooden shoe manufactures, the tan-yards, saw-mills, etc., etc. There are in Montevideo a great many important spirit, wine, brandy, beer and match manufacturers; and there are six- teen of them in the departments. The Montevideo manufacturers give an annual product of : Alcohol, . . 2,000,000 litres. Beer, . . . 1,700,000 " Matches, . . 55,000 grosses. Wine and Spirits, 400,000 litres. ^ Accordiug to the declarations made for the payment of the license tax, the capital represented by the trade houses, industries, etc., is $89,329,539. The clerks employed by all these houses, manufactures and industries, were 11,639, and the workmen of various nationalities 16,621. As a demonstration of the industrial importance and progress of the country, among many other establishments, the description of which cannot be made here for want of space, one may mention the great brewery Germania, established under the divection of Engineer J. A. Capurro, It occupies a magnificent building sit- uated in the "Playa Honda" in front of the Montevideo Bay. Its construction and interior distribution completely corre- sponds to all the technical necessities required ' for beer manufacturing. It is provided for night working, with electric light produced by a eight-horse dynamo and 68 lamps. The establishment was built and is worked by a stock company. It receives the waters of the River Santa Lucia, the very purest, the same that is drank in the town. It possesses, neverthe- less, two immense filters, so as to make the water still purer. The machinery comes from the renowned German manufacture of Chenmitz; it is 25 horse-power, and can give from 18,000 to 20,000 litres per day. The receiving de- positories are two, the first one of a capac- ity of 12,000 litres, and the second of 8,000 litres ; the cooling depositories can receive 9,000 litres every hour and a- half, with a temperature that can go to 14° under naught. The clarifying is made by three filters of the most modern system, without any paper application. The fermentation cellar contains three large tubs of a capacity of 3,000 and 3,500 litres. There are also 6 great cellars, for depositories, with 34 tubs each ; 18 of them can contain 5,000 litres each and the other 16, 3,500 litres. With a compressed air machiue they cork 10,000 bottles a day. The ice depositories are beautiful ; they always remain at a temperature of 12 or 20° under nought. The " Germania " also has many other depositories for the raw materials, empty bottles and casks, another for 5,000 litre tubs, brought on purpose from Ger- many ; a forge, a workshop for cask-mak- ing, ten carts and stables for 30 horses, and many offices. It possesses a quay on the bay for load- ing and unloading and, during the season of most activity, employs over a hundred workmen and clerks. This establishment represents a capital of over half a million dollars. During the season it sells over 200,000 litres per month to nearly 1,500 or 2,000 establishments. 86 THE ORIENTAL REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY AT THE The game society possesses also a starch and an alcohol manufactory. They are very important establishments, provided with the very latest inventions of European and North American manufacture. In the same conditions are also the Richling and Niding Beer Manufactories. Banks, Anonymous Societies. The Republic counts with a great many banks and anonymous societies, that make easier all commercial transactions. The emission banks are : The London and Ri'Der Plate BanTc, that on December 31, 1891, had an active capital of $8,911,- 000 ; the Italian Uruguay Bank, with an active capital of $7,714,521; the Simin and River Plate BanTc, with $4,G14,7o2; the Italo^ Oriental, with $10,432,276, and the other banks called National Bank, English and River Plate Bank, which ac- tually are in liquidation, being the active of the first bank, 31st December, 1890, $61,630,320, and that of the second, $15,298,406. Among the discounting banks, there are the Commercial Bank, the French Bank, the South America British Bank, the Anglo-Argentine Bank. The principal anonymous societies are : The "Credito Real Uruguayo," the "In- dustrial," the "Cobranzas, locacion y Anticipos," the "Agenda de Tierras," the " Colonizacion y Fomento del Uruguay," the "Caja de Credito Uruguayo," the "Auxiliar de Credito y Alquileres," the " Co-operativa de Consume," the " Caja Nacional Uruguaya," the "Edificadora de Montevideo," the " Mercantil del Plata," the "Vegas Uruguayas," the "Viticola Uruguaya," the Viticola Saltena" and many others that represent important capitals. Commerce Halls. In Montevideo there is the important commercial centre called " Bolsa Monte- videana," or Montevideo Exchange Hall. There are also the French, the Italian and the Spanish Commercial Boards, that make easier and easier the exchange of goods between the Republic and France, Italy and Spain. Means of Communication and Conveyance. All the towns and villages of Uruguay littoral communicate with the capital by the regular service of beautiful steamers between Montevideo and Salto, stopping in all the ports of the Uruguay and Argen- tine Republic littoral. Other steamers start from Montevideo for Paraguay and Matto-Grosso (Brazil.) The lines of transatlantic steamers estab- lish constant communications between the Republic and European and American ports. By land, a great many places in the Republic are put in communication by the railways and by the telegraph, established also between Montevideo and Europe, Brazil, the Pacific and Argentine Republic. Where the railways are not yet estab- lished, there is a good and regular service of stage-coaches. Railways. There are already seven railway lines in the Republic, the service of which is quite regular and comprehends an extension of 1,567 kilometres.. Some other lines are in way of forma- tion, and for some others the necessary preliminary studies have begun, compris- ing a new extension of 1,231 kilometres. The railways already established are : 1st. The Central Uruguay Railway. It starts from Montevideo, runs through the whole territory of the Republic, ^ill it reaches the capital of the Department of Rivera, on the very frontier of Brazil, in front of " Santa Ana do Livramento," that is to say, with an extension of 575 kilo- metres. Besides this, it has also another line of 32 kilometres from " 25 de Agosto " to "San Jose." would' S COLUMBIAN EXHIBITION, CHICAGO. 37 2d. The Northeast Uruguay Railway, between Montevideo and Minas, with an extension of 122 kilometres. 3d. The ^'East Extensiori^ Railway, between Toledo Station, which belongs to the Northeast Uruguay Railway and Nieo Perez, with an extension of 206 kilometre^. 4th. The North Raihvay, between Mon- tevideo and Santa Lucia, where are es- tablished the municipal slaughter houses. This railway furnishes with meat all the Montevideo markets and has an extension of 23 kilometres. 5 th. The Northwest Uruguay Railway, from Salto to the Eiver Cuareim, through the Department of Artigas, with an ex- tension of 178 kilometres. In "Paso del Correo," where this line stops, begins the Brazilian Uruguayana Line. 6 th. The Midland Uruguay Railway joins with the Central Railway in "Paso de los Toros" and. with the Northwest Railway in the town of Salto and has its principal station in Paysandu, with an ex- tension of 3J7 kilometres. 7th. The North Uruguay Railway between Isla Cabellos, which belongs to the Northwest Line and San Eugenio in front of San Juan Bautista (Brazil). It runs through the Department of Artigas and has an extension of 114 kilometres. Eiver Steamers. There exist many important navigation companies with beautiful and comfortable steamers for the service of the River Plate, Uruguay and Parana. Among these companies the English company Plate)ise must be mentioned. With its twenty steamers it represents an important capital. It possesses its own docks and wharfs in this republic and in the Argentine Republic. The principal steamers of the Platense are called: Venus, Eolo, Apolo, Minerva, Olimpo, Saturno, Cosmos and Helios, the finest of all, recent- ly constructed. All these steamers have electric light on board. They all go to Buenos Ayres and stop in Martin Garcia, Nueva Palmira, Mercedes, Fray Bentos, Gualeguaychu, Concepcion del Uruguay, Paysandu, Villa Colon, Guaviyu, Concor- din, Salto and vice versa. The steamers of the other companies have more or less the same itinerary. The movement of goods and pass -ngers is important and has always given good benefits to all the companies. The journey between Montevideo and Buenos Ayres is of a few hours. The steamers start form Montevideo at 6 p. ui. and get to Buenos Ayres, generally, at 4 next morning. The very same day, at 10 a. m. they start again for the ports of the Uruguay; getting to Salto the next day. Stage Coaches. In all the departments where railways are not yet established there is a regular service of stage coaches putting the var- ious railway lines in communication and making easier the conveyance of goods and passengers. Tramways. In Montevideo there are nine tramway lines: 1st Union and Maronas Tramway; 2nd Paso del Molino and Cerro Tramway; 3rd Eastern Tramway; 4th Buceo and Union Tramway; 5th North Tramway; 6th Oriental Tramway; 7th Reducto Tram- way; 8th Montevideo Tramway; 9th Cen- tral Tramway. In nearly all the streets of Montevideo there is a tramway line and with such a shortening of the distances life and activity are a great deal increased. In the centre of the town the tramway ticket costs 4 cents, and from one extrem- ity of the line to the other it costs 10 cents. During the year 1891 all these tram- ways made 916,798 journeys, which repre- sent 9,285,940 kilometres, they conveyed 18,000,000 passengers. They possess 507 coaches and 3,622 horses. The munber of men employed by the tramway companies is 1029. Thev have 14 stations. 38 THE ORIENTAL REPUBLIC OP URUGUAY AT THE In the town of Paysandu there is also a tramway line. Telegraph. The telegraph, as it may be seen on the map, is established all over the Repub- lic and in commnnication with all the towns of Europe and America. The differ- ent telegraph companies are: Tele- graph Cable. The National Telegraph Co kilom. 951 15 The Platlno Brasilei:o " 829 Rio de la Plata " 233 160 The Western and Brazilian Co., Oriental Line " — 694 Telefonica del Plata " 180 45 TheOriental " 1,362 The Platense, Biasilero, United States direct " 250 — 3,805 914 Telegraph of the railway lines " 1 ,568 5,373 914 There are two telegraph companies more between Salto and Concordia and between Paysandu and Concepcion del Uruguay (Argentine Eepublic). But they are of little importance. The number of telegrams sent by the various companies was, in 1891, 256,467. Navigation Companies. Many European and American Com- panies have their agencies in Montevideo. The principal ones are : Italian Company La Veloce. French Company Chargeurs Reunis. English Company Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. Spanish Company .. La Trasatlantica. French Company Messageries Maritime^. French Company Nouvelle Compagnie Mar-' seillaise. English Company Pacific Steam Nat^igation Company. N. American Company United States and Brazil Mail. English Company Shaw, Savlll & Albion Co., limited. English Company New Zealand Shipping Co., limited. Italian Company. Navigazione Oenerale Ral- iana. Societa Riunite (Florio 6 Rubattino). Italian Company Fratelli Lavarello Fn Oio Batta. Italian Company La Oenovesse, French Company Transports Maritim es a vapeur. English Company Lamport Holt Line. Brazilian Company Companhia Nacional de Navegacao a vapor. All these steamers put Montevideo in direct communication with Barcelona, Qenoa, Naples, Dakar, Lisbon, Bourdeaux, Rio Janeiro, Saint Vincent, Vigo, Bahia, Pernambuco, Marseilles, Havre, Santa Cruz of Tenerif, Dunkirk, Plymouth, Liver- pool, London, New Zealand and also the ports of the Pacific Ocean and those of North America, Telephone. In many points of the Republic tele- phone lines are established. The principal lines in Montevideo are : The Co-oper- ative Co., the Telefonica Nacional Co., the Telefonica de Montevideo Co. During the year 1891 these lines have had 21,000 daily communications. They have 3,600 subscribers and the wires they employ represent 5,500 miles. They have 10 offices and employ 174 persons, 74 men and 100 women. The capital of each company is : The Telefonica de Monte- video $220,000, the Telefonica Nacional $105,000, the Telegrafica Telefonica del Plata Company has established a tele- phone line between Montevideo and Buenos Ayres. Postage. The movement in the Postoffices of the Republic is greater every day, owing to the continual improvement of the ways of com- munication. The following table gives an idea of the movement in the Montevideo Postoffice : Letters, Years. Papers, etc. 1885, 12,203,.381 1886, 11,407,596 1887, ...... 17,157,345 1888, 20,171,929 1889, 21,366,472 1890, 21,534,209 1891, 20,105,295 world's C0T,UMBIAN EXHIBITrON, CHICAGO. 39 The movement during 1891 may be divided thus : Letters, in general . . 6,152,654 Business papers, samples 543,127 423,178 55,955 Papers, etc 12,930,381 20,105,295 Official correspondence Post-cards .... Carriages, Coaches, Etc. The number of coaches is very con- siderable in the Republic. Montevideo alone counts over 4,000 carts and more than 700 carriages. Public Education. Primary education is gratuitous and obligatory in all the Republic. The public schools are at the expense of the State, that gives the books and all the necessary materials. Since the year 1877, in which was issued the law on public education, the primary education has improved a great deal. The reform of the primary schools was initiated in the year 1868 by a private society, founded by the great reformer, Jose Pedro Varela, the Horace Manu of Uruguay, under the name of "Friends of Popular Education Society," which created an application school, called " Elbio Fer- nandez," in honor of one of the founders of the society. Various North American books and manuals were then translated for the use of the schools and masters. Varela's ideas soon were diffused among the people, and the reformer was ap- pointed to a high situation in the Public Instruction Board, in the year 1876. Immediately he reformed all the official schools, and organized the scholar ad- ministration, being himself appointed principal director of ib, with the title of " National Primary Instruction Inspector." University. The number of the students in the University of Montevideo during the year 1891 was 668, distributed thus : For law, 377 For social sciences, . . .176 For medicine, 85 For mathematics, .... 30 668 Out of those 668 students, 631 were natives and 37 foreigners. The professors were 75 : 14 for law and social sciences, 23 for medicine, 19 for mathematics and 19 for the preparatory studies; being 58 of them natives, 12 Spaniards, 3 Italians, 1 German and 1 Frenchman. Public Schools. In the year 1891 there were in the Republic 483 public schools; that is to say, 142 more than in the year 1886. The number of pupils was then for the whole Republic 43,676 (24,541 boys, 19,135 girls) — 14,763 boys and girls in the capital, and 28,913 in the departments. All the schools cost $690,574, the edu- cation of each pupil representing a value of $13.27. The professors were 863 — 272 men and 591 women. Ninety-four schools were established in buildings belonging to the National Edu- cational Board and representing a value of $448,541, and 11 of them in buildings belonging to the State, with a value of $45,942. Private Schools. In 1891 there existed in the Republic 375 private schools, with 21,945 pupils and 930 professors (381 men and 549 women). We obtain, therefore, the following re- sult : No. Pupils. Public schools . . 483, with 43,676 Private " . . 375, " 21,945 Schools 65,6-.Jl 40 THE OftTENTAIi IIKPUBLIC Oti" tTRtfGUAV AT THfi Normal Girl School. In this national school 114 girls re- ceived the title of professor for the first degree, and 29 for the second degree, from the year ]887 to the year 1891. In the same building is etablished the '^Museo Fedagogico, or Pedagogic" Museum, one of the most important institutions of this kind in South America, under the direction of Mr. A. Gomez Euano. Art and Professional School. This important establishment is actually under the care of the " National Charity and Public Beneficence Commission." It is established in a large building of its own, fit for 600 pupils. In 1891 there were 227 of them who received there, besides professional instruction, a very serious general instruction up to the third degree. In that establishment they study for carpenter, cabinet-maker, ironsmith, shoe- maker, bookbinder, typographer, litho- grapher, mechanican, turner, silversmith, tinsmith, sculptor, painter, etc. There are also classes of telegraphing, drawing, gymnastics, singing, and music. The pro- fessors are 46. Montevideo AtJieneum. — A beautiful establishment is being built for this literary, scientific and artistic institution, the object of which is, delivering gratuit- ous lectures and publishing reviews, to foment in the Republic the general literary, scientific and artistic instruction. Professional League — Very good results are attained by this institution. In its halls the best professors give every night gratuitous lessons on painting, drawing, architecture and mathematics. Military School. This establishment is under the care of the Ministry of War and Navy, and works according to the latest improvements of military science. It counts with the best professors of French and German tactics, physics and natural philosophy, mathematics, geog- raphy and history, lineal drawing and photography, fencing and gymnastics. It possesses also all the necessary apparatus for physics, chemistry, physiology and mineralogy, and has a complete library with the newest and best scientific works. Eeligious Schools. In the Republic there are a great many schools and colleges under the care of religious communities, in which more than 4,200 children are taught. Educational Patriotic League. Under this name there exists in Monte- video an important establishment, the object of which is to improve and foment the primary, secondary, superior, artisti- cal and professional instruction, not only in Montevideo but also throughout the whole country. It has also founded an important college. V National Library. During the 185 days in which that im- portant establishment remained opened, in the year 1891, the number of the readers have been 2,849. The number of the books asked for was 2,698 and 64 manuscripts. The library possesses over 21,000 vol- umes and 2,500 manuscripts, a great many engravings, photographs and maps. There are also the "Archives" where all records are kept, ancient writings and documents that have a relation with the National History. In nearly every department there is a public library. International Booh Exchange. — Uruguay is one of the nations that signed the Brussels treaty and in Montevideo there is a very useful office for International Book Exchange. world's COLUMBIAN EXHIBITION, CHICAGO. 41 National Museum. In the National Museum there are 24.'" Liga Masaniello, Nova Stella di Italia, La Romea, Tiro y Gymnasio Nacional, Union de Obreros, and also the French, llalian and Spanish commercial boards. The Uruguay Masonry is represented by a Great Orient on which depend many other lodges. There exist also many for- eign lodges. Worship and Churches. Although the State Religion is the Roman Catholic Apostolic Religion, all the other religions are tolerated in the Repub- lic owing to the liberality of the laws and to the independent spirit of the inhab- itants. There exist Protestant Temples, not only in Montevideo but also in Salto, Swiss Colony, etc. The budget of the Republic assigns $19,712 for all the expenses of the Roman Catholic Church. The Republic has 43 churches and 36 chapels. The number of the priests is 161. Actually they are building 7 more churches. Public Revenue. The public revenue is derived from the custom duties, direct taxes on property, licenses to trade houses, stamped paper, stamps, import and export duties, port dues, municipal duties in the capital and in the departments, duties on indirect inheritance, trade patents, cattle marks, etc. Its amount has been during the three following periods : 1882, $ 9,095,409 1883, 10,928,639 1884-1885 (economical year), 12,873,688 Total, $32,397,736 1885-1886 (economical year), $11,719,692 1886-1887 " " 12,704,832 1887-1888 " " 13,668,096 Total, $38,092,620 43 THE ORIENTAL KEPTJBLIC OF URUGUAY AT THE 1888-1889 (economical year), |15,690,293 1889-1890 " " 17,415,154 1890-1891 " " 14,925,363 Total, $48,030,810 The increase during the second period, if compared with the first one is : $5,694,- 884, and the increase of the third period compared with the second one is; $9,938,- 190; Custom Duties. They are the principal revenue of the Eepublic. From the year 1882 to the year 1891, the product of the custom duties, calculated by periods of five years each, has been ; 1882, $5,501,360 1883, 6,968,321 1884, 7,749,438 1885, 7,731,264 . 1886, 6,803,761 Total, . . $34,754,144 1887, $ 8,671,243 1888, ...... 8,845,776 1889, 10,786,602 1890, 9,848,735 1891, 8,648,509 Total, . $46,800,865 The increase of the second period, if compared with the first one, has been : $12,046,721. Licenses, Stamped Paper, Stamps. The licenses for trade houses, shops, etc., stamped paper and stamps have produced during the period 1887-1891 : Licenses. Stamped Paper. Stamps. 1887, . $ 783,179 $203,143 $336,688 1888, . 888,543 253,610 379,063 1889, . 1,180,118 283,009 452,167 1890, . 1,219,943 301,058 485,850 1891, . 1,001,405 220,882 414,160 Totals, $5,073,188 $1,261,702 $2,067,928 MiddSi 1,014,637 252,340 418,585 J Term, y ' 1 Public Debt. On the 1st of January, 1891, the public debt was $ 89,848,850 Augmentation of the public debt during the year 86,183 $ 89,935,032 Redemption in 1891 2,145,059 Public debt on the 31st of Decem- ber, 1891 I 87,789,973 All the external public debt has been unified, including in it what was owed for the guarantee to railways, and also what remained due of the external debt service. The interest to be paid has been lessened and definitely established at the rate of 3)4 per cent., and the redemption by the outbidding system has been restored. The internal consolidated debt has also been unified with an interest of 4 per cent., and redeemable at the rate of 1 per per cent., accumulatively and by outbid- dings. The external consolidated debt (d}4 per cent.) is $90,710,000. The internal unified debt (4 per cent.) is $7,500,000. The international debts, according to treaties with Italy, France and Spain, are $1,987,125. All these debts that will be issued when these lines are published will form, more or less, it total of $104,000,000, mortgage bank warranty debt included. Budget of Expenditure. * The financial year begins on the 1st of July and concludes on the 30th of June of the next year. From the financial year of 1889-90 it has been the anterior budget which has gone on ruling, with a general deduction * Whilst the preeent monography is being printed the Deputy Chamber is studying a new project for the budget, the base of which is the project proposed for the financial year 1891-92, with a diminution of 10 per cent., which would allow the complete payment of the expenditure. "WOBLD S COLUMBIAN EXHIBITION, CHICAGO. 43 of 10 per cent., and with some augments and changes in other parts of the budget. A new budget for the financial year 1892-93 is going to be voted, which will consist of the following amounts : I.—Administrati07i : After a discount of 20 per cent- on the wages $ 5,840,306.41 n.—Hmse of Legislation . . . 582,658.00 HI.— Passive Classes: That is to say, annual allowances paid to pensioners, civil and military, soldiers disabled by wounds or age, widows and sons of the 33 Orientals who assegurated the national inde- pendence in 1825, citizens who took part in the Independence wars, etc. Alter a discount between 4 and 15 per cent 1,324,503.32 IV.— Public Debt and Ouarantee to Rail- ways 5,724,620.24 Various credits 144,394.52 So as to attend to this budget the Ee- pnblic counts with the following incomes : Customs duties $ 8,577,622.84 Duties on propertj' 1,750,549.54 Licenses 925,535.87 Stamped paper 337,141.31 Stamps 219,548.57 Taxes on manufactures 256,751.59 Postage 203,585.73 Public education 219.251.13 Ports 66,414.46 Duties on inheritances .... 127,363.80 Duties on the signature of public acts, being excepted the value of the stamped paper 15,162.03 Police Duties 36,473.40 Revenue of the municipalities in the departments 100,330.92 Duties on amphibious fisheries . . 7,000.00 Cattle-marks . . .... 3,000.00 Duties of 1 per cent, on payments . 78,049.51 Civil and military house for pawning . 56,534.74 Eventual incomes, and revenue of the renting of lands belonging to the State 15.570.41 Total $13,985,875.84 NEW DUTIES. Augmentation of the duty on slaughter- houses $ 80,000.00 Augmentation of the duty on inherit- ances 140,000.00 Augmentation of the import duties . 137,500.00 Augmentation of the municipal duties 100,000.00 A discount of 30 per cent, on the wages of the clerks of the Montevideo municipality 65,350.00 $ 512,850.00 RECAPITULATION. Resources .... $13,985,875.84 513,850.00 New resources $13,498,735.84 Weights and Measures. The law of the year 1862 established the metrical system throughout the Kepublic. Metres. 1 lineal league, ......= 5,154 1 lineal cuadra, = 85 — 900 c. 1 lineal vara, = 859 c. 1 lineal foot, = 286 c. Litres. 1 pipa, or 192 frascos = 455 — 424 1 fi-asco, . . = 3—370 1 English gallon, = 3—805 1 fanega, maize, ears, . 1 " " grains, 1 ton, 1 quintal (100 lbs.), . 1 arrobe (25 lbs.), . . 1 livre (pound, libra), . 1 Pesada (dry hides, 40 lbs.), 1 " (salted hides, 75 lbs.), Kilogs. 374—544 137—372 918—800 45—940 11—485 0—459 18-376 34—455 Ofl&cial Value of Gold Coins. Argentine Republic, 1 argentino ($5 gold), $ 4 66 Austria 8 florins, 3 73 Belgium, .... (,the same value as French coins). ( 20,000 reis, . . . . 10 56 Brazil, . . . . -^ 10,000 reis 5 28 ( 5,000 reis, .... 3 64 Chile i 1 condor (|10), . . 8 83 ^'^^^^' • ' i i " ($5), ... 4 41 Columbia, .... $30, 18 66 Fn^land ^ ^^ ^^O sh.), .... 4 70 England, . . • j £^ .jq sh.), .... 2 35 f 100 frcs., . . . . 18 66 I 50 frcs., 9 33 ■ci,.„„„„ J 30 frcs., and also the j?iance, • • -i Italian, Belgian and I Swiss 30 Ires, or lire I coins, 3 73 Germany, ...{?» -»r^». ; ; ; ; j «» Peru, 20 soles (suns), . . 18 66 Portugal, .... 1 crown (10,000 reis), 10 45 i 1 doblon (100 reals Spain, . . . . -^ and 10 escudos), . 4 82 ( 25 pesetas, .... 4 66 Switzerland, . . . Like French coins. ( 1 double eagle, |20, 19 33 United States, . - 1 eagle, $10, ... 9 66 ( i eagle, $5 4 83 Venezuela, ... 30 pesos, 18 66 44 THE ORIENTAIi REPUBLIC OP URUGUAY AT THE The standard currency in Uruguay is gold. The nominal unit, $1, 1 peso ($1), has a weight of 1 gramme, 697 mgrm. of gold and 917 mills standard. The official value of the national silver coin, 1 peso, has a weight of 25 grammes and 900 milles standard. The other minor silver coins are : $0.50, $0.20, $0.10. In all accounts, the limited quantity that can be paid in silver, is determined by the law, according to the total amount. Police. The police under the care of the Politi- cal and Police Chief (jefe politico y de policia) of each department and depending on the Executive power employs a great many persons, the wages of Avhich are rel- atively very small. However, the police service goes on with a perfect regularity in the capital and in the departments. The whole police administration costs half a million to the state. Army. The organization of the Uruguayan army is perfect, as well in regard to the discipline as in regard to the military tac- tics. They are dressed as well as the best European soldier. They use the Remington gun ; but they are going to be provided with the reformed Mauser gun. The artillery regiments have 67 Krup, Armstrong and Nordenfeld cannons. The army is composed of 23 chiefs, 202 officers and 3,425 soldiers, forming 10 battalions, that is to say : 4 Hunters bat- talions, 1 artillery battalion, 4 cavalry battalions and 1 light artillery battalion, besides which must be counted the general Artigas fort garrison and the "Prague Isacional" or Arsenal detachment. One Hunters Battalion and the four Cavalry ones serve as garrisons in the de- partments. The other battalions remain in the capital. Navy. The national fleet is rmployed for coast and fort guarding. It is Cbmposed of three large gun-boats and 6 small steamers. They all use Remington guns ; as for the cannons, they belong to various systems. Montevideo, the Capital of the Republic. The great maritime town of Montevideo, the capital of the Republic and the so- called department, was founded in the year 1726 by the Spanish marshal Don Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, Avith some Spanish families, who came from Buenos Ay res and Canary Islands. The town is built over a rocky peninsu- la, in the middle of the salt waters of the River Plate, with a height of over 100 feet above the sea. It is actually divided into three large sections called the Antigua (old) town, the Nueva (new) town and the Novisima (newest) town. All around the town will run the great boulevard General Artigas. The whole town consists in 1,600 manzana» or square cuadras, more than 600 of which are already edificed; it must be added that every day new buildings are begun every- where about the town. In all directions new streets are opened and new houses are built and new suburbs created, making: Montevideo larger and larger every day. The streets are all straight and nearly- all of them well paved with granite stone. In the old town they are 10 and 11 metres wide and in the new town 17 metres, with broad pavements and trees planted on both sides. The principal roads that lead to the town are broad, part of them covered with a bed of macadam and the others with » bed of stones. There are six public squares, called^ Zabala, Constitucion, Independencia, Li- bertad, Tremta y Tres, General Flores, and the smaller ones called Solis and Muell& Viejo. WOKLD'S COLUMBIAN EXHIBITION, CHICAGO. 45 In all these sc^uares there are trees and banks ; they are lit with electric light and the paths that surround them are made of the finest granite. Most of them are one manzana large, that is to say 7,378 square metres. The square called Independencia is a parallelo- gram 221 metres long by 232 metres broad with an area of 29,260 metres. In it is sit- uated the government palace. The boule- vard called 18 de Julio is the continuation of the Independencia Square, from W. to E., being 26 metres broad. The common server has an extension of 9,3,000 metres and more than 7,500 are